from the no-Mr.-Cockroach-I-expect-you-to-die dept.
Scientists Create AI-Powered Laser to 'Neutralize' Cockroaches - ExtremeTech:
Researchers in Scotland have devised a way to "neutralize" creepy crawlies in the coolest way possible: by shooting them with a laser. Ildar Rakhmatulin, a research associate at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University, recently partnered with a group of engineers, biologists, and machine learning specialists to create a cockroach-compromising, AI-powered laser device. Rakhmatulin had previously created Raspberry Pi and laser combinations to kill mosquitos, but after recognizing the effect roach infestations could have on the restaurant industry and general public health, he wanted to go bigger.
The system begins with a single-board Jetson Nano, a small computer capable of running deep learning algorithms. Using 1,000 images of cockroaches in different lighting, Rakhmatulin and his team trained the Nano to recognize its target and track the insect's movement. Once the two cameras attached to the device have located a roach, the Nano calculates its target's distance within 3D space. It then sends this information to a galvanometer, which uses mirrors to adjust the laser's direction. The laser can then be shot at the target.
The laser's effect varies depending on its power level. Lower power appears to trigger the insects' flight response, which the team thinks might teach roaches not to return to a particular area. Stronger power levels "neutralized" (AKA killed) the roaches. Better yet, the team is already testing it on a wider range of pests, like hornets.
Journal Reference:
Ildar Rakhmatulin, Mathieu Lihoreau, Jose Pueyo. Selective neutralisation and deterring of cockroaches with laser automated by machine vision [open], Oriental Insects (DOI: 10.1080/00305316.2022.2121777)
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 03 2022, @07:45PM (6 children)
I'm sure the developers enjoyed this project, but when I lived in a very old, infested dorm it was actually pretty easy to deal with roaches. First, never leave any food or dirty dishes around (a meal isn't over until all the dishes are done) and 2nd, crystalline boric acid around the outside edges of rooms was cheap and perfectly effective.
Besides, with my luck, the laser would try to remove my toes (I'm a barefooter).
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Monday October 03 2022, @08:29PM (2 children)
Spot on with the boric acid. No need to mix baits, or make paste of it, or all the crazy things people do. Just dust the powder where the roaches will walk through it, and it will get rid of them right quickly. And, don't clean up the powder after the roaches are gone - there are roach eggs in those walls waiting to hatch - just leave the powder laying around, so they walk through it as well. It takes two to three months to completely eliminate the population.
I've cleaned a few trashed out mobile homes and apartments that way.
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Monday October 03 2022, @08:47PM (1 child)
But be careful not let the boric acid get into your food.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 03 2022, @09:01PM
But it's good in your laundry.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 03 2022, @09:17PM (2 children)
Get the same laser shooting at mosquitoes and you have a winner.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Monday October 03 2022, @09:48PM
You mean this one, that Bill & Melinda Gates helped sponsor? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_laser [wikipedia.org]
https://futurism.com/the-laser-shooting-mosquito-zapper-were-still-waiting-for [futurism.com]
I want one, but need to be sure it won't burn eyes.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 03 2022, @10:11PM
Simple mosquito solution, if you plan ahead, from https://www.mosquito.org/page/FAQ [mosquito.org]
> How high do mosquitoes fly?
> In general, mosquitoes that bite humans prefer to fly at heights of less than 25 ft. ...
Friends near seasonal ponds and a slow moving river in Maine built their porch/deck well up in the air. With no nearby trees higher than the porch, the mosquitoes (and other bugs like black fly) never got that high. Down on the ground in that wetland area I think wearing mosquito netting would almost be a necessity, in the evening.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 03 2022, @09:11PM (1 child)
Running on a Pi or more powerful system, it can be cloud connected!
Thus your phone can have an app that goes to the cloud to find out how many roaches have been killed. Where they are located. Charts and graphs could be generated showing the change in population over time. This highly valuable info could be displayed on large screens in common areas of a dormitory, restaurant, child care facility or hospital. Everyone could use their phone to check the roach levels of these places while in the parking lot before leaving the safety of their cars.
Next our blessed overlord Google could offer a Maps overlay that shows roach populations so you can see this information for any location on Google Maps.
Your local news could include a section in the Weather Report called the Roach Report.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 4, Touché) by Gaaark on Monday October 03 2022, @09:48PM
And then Skynet takes over and lasers your eyes; then the rest of you. Slowly, while you die a painful death with cockroaches filling up your lungs and laying eggs on your children.
"Oh, the Humanity!"
(Or for the person who said they had cockroaches in their dorm: "Oh, the Humanities!")
;)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Interesting) by JustNiz on Monday October 03 2022, @09:56PM
I would pay real money for one that can zap mosquitos.